Something interesting to think about: according to Nomura, at the time of the finale of KH2, Xemnas is the most powerful being in the universe. So how, then, does Sora, our dull, ordinary boy, manage to beat such a behemoth? Cynics would give the answer that Sora wins because the plot compels him: he's the hero, ergo he must win. But I don't think we need to resort to a meta reading of the story to find an answer. Sora wins in the end because he has Riku. And again, let's not get carried away with that assessment: it is my humble opinion that Riku isn't the most powerful, nor is he more of a hero than Sora. What matters here is that Sora won because he brought a friend.
Why does this matter? Well, consider this: What if Organization XIII hadn't been constantly undermined by personal agenda, power lust, and back biting? What if they had not only worked together well, but if they had even gone so far as to form friendships? Consider how much power is in play within the Organization: Vexen and Zexion are both geniuses, Marluxia has a ton of power in his corner, Axel is a master of spying and subterfuge, Saix has great (pardon the pun) organizing skills, and Xemnas is the most powerful being in the world. What could they have amounted to if they had not chosen to spend their time in backstabbing and manipulation, and if they had managed to work together for a period of time to finally complete their goals? Or, better yet, what if they had become actual friends, bound by more than immediate convenience?
Chances are, all the kerfuffel that occurred at Castle Oblivion would have been avoided, their ranks would have not been thinned, and they could have managed al their resources together and actually achieved their goals. As it is, however, they were each so concerned with their own selfish desires that they couldn't bring themselves to actually form an Organization. And thus, one by one, they were able to be picked off.
Now, consider Sora. His best friend in the world betrayed him, threw him under the bus, tried to kill him, and then tried to abet in the destruction of the universe. Sora has every selfish reason to flip off Riku and go on on his own. But what he does, instead, is to recognize that his friend has made some mistakes, and that he's trying to come back. Sora doesn't shut out the concept of friendship in order to satisfy his own ego and desires. Sora has an understanding of humanity that eludes the Nobodies: he gets the concept of real emotion, real love, which, of course, the Organization cannot percieve. And thus, rather than let Riku slink off to feel sorry for himself, Sora makes sure that he understands that he's still welcome, and that he still has friends on the other side.
Thus, when it comes down to the final duel, Sora isn't standing alone to face Xemnas: Riku is there with him. And though it might seem almost unfair to have 2 vs. 1. consider this: had Xemnas chosen, it could have been 2 vs. 13. But Xemnas, and the other members of the Organization, were blind to the real powers of Sora and his friends, and that's why, in the end, they lost.
Something interesting to think about: according to Nomura, at the time of the finale of KH2, Xemnas is the most powerful being in the universe. So how, then, does Sora, our dull, ordinary boy, manage to beat such a behemoth? Cynics would give the answer that Sora wins because the plot compels him: he's the hero, ergo he must win. But I don't think we need to resort to a meta reading of the story to find an answer. Sora wins in the end because he has Riku. And again, let's not get carried away with that assessment: it is my humble opinion that Riku isn't the most powerful, nor is he more of a hero than Sora. What matters here is that Sora won because he brought a friend.
Why does this matter? Well, consider this: What if Organization XIII hadn't been constantly undermined by personal agenda, power lust, and back biting? What if they had not only worked together well, but if they had even gone so far as to form friendships? Consider how much power is in play within the Organization: Vexen and Zexion are both geniuses, Marluxia has a ton of power in his corner, Axel is a master of spying and subterfuge, Saix has great (pardon the pun) organizing skills, and Xemnas is the most powerful being in the world. What could they have amounted to if they had not chosen to spend their time in backstabbing and manipulation, and if they had managed to work together for a period of time to finally complete their goals? Or, better yet, what if they had become actual friends, bound by more than immediate convenience?
Chances are, all the kerfuffel that occurred at Castle Oblivion would have been avoided, their ranks would have not been thinned, and they could have managed al their resources together and actually achieved their goals. As it is, however, they were each so concerned with their own selfish desires that they couldn't bring themselves to actually form an Organization. And thus, one by one, they were able to be picked off.
Now, consider Sora. His best friend in the world betrayed him, threw him under the bus, tried to kill him, and then tried to abet in the destruction of the universe. Sora has every selfish reason to flip off Riku and go on on his own. But what he does, instead, is to recognize that his friend has made some mistakes, and that he's trying to come back. Sora doesn't shut out the concept of friendship in order to satisfy his own ego and desires. Sora has an understanding of humanity that eludes the Nobodies: he gets the concept of real emotion, real love, which, of course, the Organization cannot percieve. And thus, rather than let Riku slink off to feel sorry for himself, Sora makes sure that he understands that he's still welcome, and that he still has friends on the other side.
Thus, when it comes down to the final duel, Sora isn't standing alone to face Xemnas: Riku is there with him. And though it might seem almost unfair to have 2 vs. 1. consider this: had Xemnas chosen, it could have been 2 vs. 13. But Xemnas, and the other members of the Organization, were blind to the real powers of Sora and his friends, and that's why, in the end, they lost.